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Cong MLA Khaira Detained By Police

By LokMarg 28th September 2023

Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira on Thursday was detained by Punjab police in connection with the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

In an early morning operation on Thursday, a team of Punjab Police reached Khaira’s residence and conducted a raid in connection with an old case registered in 2015 under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in Jalalabad, Fazilka.

Khaira was hosting a Facebook Live where he can be seeing arguing with police personnel as they raided his house this morning. A police official can be seen in the video telling Khaira that a SIT has been formed in an old drug smuggling case.

In the video, Khaira is also seen raising slogans of “Punjab Sarkar murdabad” as the police personnel detain him.

Sukhpal Khaira is an MLA from Bholath in Kapurthala of Punjab and Chairman of All India Kisan Congress.

Leader of the Congress party in the Punjab assembly and senior leader Partap Singh Bajwa questioned the detention of Khaira saying that the AAP government in Punjab had resorted to low level vendetta politics.

“The arrest of Senior Congress Leader and Bolath MLA @SukhpalKhaira is extremely deplorable. The @AAPPunjab

govt has stooped to an all-time low and resorted to vendetta politics. Sukhpal Singh Khaira has been outspoken and raised his voice against the wrongdoings and irregularities committed by the CM @BhagwantMann’s govt. The Punjab Congress under the ambit of law will leave no stone unturned to get him released” Partap Singh Bajwa said in a post on X.

In a show of support arch rivals of Congress in the state the Shiromani Akali Dal criticised the Punjab government for its high handed action.

In a post on X the Akali Dal said “Political differences aside- Shiromani Akali Dal Amritsar condemns the arrest borne out of the witch hunt and political vendetta against Bholath MLA and a very respected @SukhpalKhaira Ji a fierce critic of @BhagwantMann and @AAPPunjab led @PunjabGovtIndia. What promised to be a ‘badlav’ is turning out to be a horror show.”

The arrest of Sukhpal Khaira is expected to further dent the relations of AAP and the Congress which have come together to form the INDIA alliance at the centre. The state unit of the Congress has opposed any tie-up or seat sharing arrangement with the AAP in Punjab. (ANI)

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Cong Punjab Chief Condemns khaira’s Detention

By LokMarg 28th September 2023

Condemning the detention of Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira, Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring on Thursday termed the action taken by Punjab Police as a “jungle raj”.

“I condemn this arrest. This is jungle raj as there is nothing in the case. The Supreme Court has stayed the proceeding and quashed it. The notice regarding stay has been given to ED, then tell me what is remaining in this eight-year-old case,” Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said.

He further said that Congress President Kharge called me in the morning and asked us to fight for Khaira.

“His family has said that anything can happen to him,” he added.

The President of the Punjab Congress also took to X (Formerly Twitter) and called the arrest a ploy by the Punjab government to distract people from the core issues.

“The recent arrest of Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira ji smacks of Political Vendetta, it is an attempt to intimidate the opposition and is a ploy of the Punjab government to distract from core issues. We stand strongly with Sukhpal Khaira and will take this fight to its logical conclusion,” Warring posted on X.

Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa also condemned the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led Punjab government against the detention of Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira.

“Early in the morning at 6 am, Punjab Police arrested Khaira from his residence. My brothers the sad part is that the police did not have an arrest warrant,” Bajwa said.

He further assured all the members of the Punjab Congress that we stand like a rock with the entire leadership of the party and every worker.

“We will fight hard for Khaira Ji’s release,’ he said.

He further launched an attack on Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and said that the Governments don’t last forever.

“Governments don’t last forever, I strongly criticize your dictatorial action. Today is the birth anniversary of Shaheed Bhagat Singh and on that day you did this,” he said.

In its first response the Aam Admi Party said that the government in Punjab was just following the due course of law and Khaira’s links with drug business were no secret

” The law will take its own course. It is well-known that Sukhpal Khaira ji indulged in the drugs business. He kept getting protection from earlier governments. Now, a proper investigation will be conducted” AAP MP Sushil Gupta said.

Sukhpal Singh Khaira was detained by Punjab police in connection with the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

Khaira was hosting a Facebook Live where he can be seen arguing with police personnel as they raided his house this morning. A police official can be seen in the video telling Khaira that a SIT has been formed in an old drug smuggling case.

In the video, Khaira is also seen raising slogans of “Punjab Sarkar murdabad” as the police personnel detain him.

Earlier in 2015, there are two cases originated with the unearthing of a cross-border drug smuggling network in Fazilka, Punjab, leading to the seizure of heroin, gold biscuits, weapons, cartridges, and Pakistani SIM cards and the second of a fake passport racket being run in Delhi.

As the trial went on, nine smugglers, including Gurdev Singh, Manjit Singh, Harbans Singh, and Subhash Chander, were sentenced in October 2017 in connection with the Fazilka case. As per the chargesheet, Khaira was closely associated with Gurdev Singh, the leader of the Fazilka drug smuggling racket, and is accused of having sheltered him.

The primary accusations against Khaira include supporting an international gang of smugglers, having sheltered him and receiving financial benefits from drug traffickers, and enjoying the proceeds of crime.

On February 16, 2023, a Supreme Court bench of Justices BR Gavai and Vikram Nath quashed the summoning order against Khaira in the drugs case.

Sukhpal Khaira is an MLA from Bholath in Kapurthala of Punjab and Chairman of All India Kisan Congress.

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Punjab: Lookout Circular Against Badal By Vigilance Bureau

By LokMarg 26th September 2023

A Look Out Circular (LOC) has been issued against former Punjab finance minister and Bharatiya Janta Party leader Manpreet Singh Badal at all airports by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau on Tuesday.

Badal who left Congress and joined BJP in January this year is facing a criminal and corruption case in the purchase of two plots in Model Town phase-1 Bathinda.

The case was registered against him under sections 420, 467, 468, 471, and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code and section 13 (1) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, besides the Information Technology Act.

Notably, the notice has been issued by the vigilance department to stop Manpreet Badal from leaving the country.

Earlier, Badal had sought anticipatory bail from the court to avoid arrest. A hearing on his appeal will be held in the session court of Bathinda today.

Apart from Badal, cases have been registered against four other individuals as well. So far, the Vigilance Bureau has arrested at least three accused in the case, namely Rajiv Kumar (resident of New Shakti Nagar), Amandeep Singh (resident of Lal Singh Basti), and Vikas Arora (resident of Tagore Nagar).

The case was registered on a complaint filed by Saroop Chand Singla, former MLA of Bathinda city, against Manpreet Singh Badal and others, a spokesperson of the Vigilance Bureau said.

He informed that during the probe it was found that Manpreet Singh Badal during his tenure as Finance Minister between 2018 and 2021 used political pressure and influence to purchase two plots measuring 1560 square yards of land in Model Town phase-1 Bathinda near the TV tower thereby causing a financial loss of lakhs of rupees to the state exchequer, a press release from the Vigilance Bureau of Punjab said.

The spokesperson further said, “During the investigation of complaint number 11/2022, it was found that the former Finance Minister, using his influence, colluded with the officials of Bathinda Development Authority (BDA) and misled the general public during the bidding of plots in the year 2021, and fake maps were uploaded to prevent the participation of the general public in the bidding process.”

Apart from this, the plot numbers 725-C (560 square yards) and 726 (1000 square yards) in the map were also shown as commercial instead of residential and the numbers of the plots were not shown on the map on the online e-auction portal, the release said.

In addition to this, the digital signatures of Balwinder Kaur, Administrative Officer, BDA Bathinda were used for the auction of plots without her permission.

During the probe, it has also come to light that the bids of the sole three bidders namely Rajive Kumar, Vikas Arora and Amandeep Singh were made by one person Advocate Sanjiv Kumar from the same IP address and from the same place.

Apart from this, both the plots were purchased by the bidders in 2021 at a lower rate which was fixed during an auction in the year 2018 causing a financial loss of about Rs 65 lakh to the government, the release said.

The former finance minister of Punjab had purchased both plots through agreements from the bidders known to him before they got allotment letters from BDA Bathinda. It was also found that Manpreet Singh Badal has transferred 25 per cent earnest money in advance to the successful allottees which shows his connivance with the bidders.

He further informed that the VB has been hunting for the arrest of other accused and involvement of other accused would also be probed during the further investigation, the release said. (ANI)

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Leaders Extend Wishes To Manmohan Singh On His 91st Birthday

By LokMarg 26th September 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with several other leaders extended their greetings to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on his 91st Birthday on Tuesday.

PM Modi took to X and said “Birthday wishes to former PM Dr Manmohan Singh Ji. I pray for his long life and good health.”

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also wished the party’s veteran leader and said “Today Dr. Manmohan Singh turns 91. He has always been an outstanding symbol of erudition and learning. But much more than that he has always epitomised grace, sobriety, humility and dignity in whichever position he has held. These are extremely rare qualities in our public life, even more so now.”

“I have heard Presidents and Prime Ministers refer to him as a guru. He does not need self-advertisement. On a personal note, I still recall the time in Sep-Oct 1986 when as Deputy Chairman he inducted Arvind Virmani, Rakesh Mohan and myself into the Planning Commission which was a tremendous learning experience,” Jairam Ramesh said on X.

Manmohan Singh was on September 26, 1932. Apart from being an economist, Manmohan Singh served as Reserve Bank of India governor from 1982-1985. He was the 13th PM of India with his tenure from 2004-2014 and was the longest serving PM after Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi.

Serving as the finance minister of India in PV Narsimha Rao’s government, Singh has been given credit for economic liberalization in the country in 1991. The reforms made the Indian economy more accessible for foreign investors which increased FDI and reducing government control. It greatly contributed in the country’s economic growth.

The liberalization of the Indian economy in 1991 is credited with unleashing competitive markets and enabling the forces of creative destruction leading to benefits that can be witnessed today also.

Manmohan Singh also brought National Rural Employment guarantee act (NREGA) which later came to be known as MGNREGA.

Right to Information act (RTI) was passed in 2005 under Manmohan Singh government which made the transparency of information between the government and public better.

He is currently a member of Rajya Sabha.

External Affair Minister also wished Manmohan Singh on X where he said “Birthday greetings to former PM Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji. Pray for his long life, good health and happiness.”

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wishing the veteran leader said “Former Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh ji’s integrity, unwavering commitment to nation-building and economic upliftment of the masses will always be an inspiration to me. Wishing him good health and happiness on his birthday.”

DMK leader and Tamil Nadu CM, MK Stalin said “Birthday greetings to former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh! As PM, his leadership during the global financial crisis and commitment to inclusive policies reshaped India’s future. His composed, intellectual, and humble approach serves as an example, providing valuable lessons for leadership in every era. His legacy of progress and stability endures. Here’s to more inspiring years!” (ANI)

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Congress Gets Zero Marks For Governance in Rajasthan: Modi

By LokMarg 25th September 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday attacked the ruling Congress in Rajasthan and said people have made up their minds to oust it in the assembly polls later this year.

Addressing ‘Parivartan Sankalp Mahasabha’ here, PM Modi referred to the Parliament passing the Women’s Reservation Bill and said it was done because of the support of people to the BJP exercised through voting.

“The people of Rajasthan have sounded the bugle against the bad governance of Congress. Congress deserves to get zero marks for the way they ran the government here. The people of Rajasthan have decided to remove the Gehlot government and bring back BJP,” he said.

“For many years, women had been waiting for 33% reservation in Lok Sabha and state assemblies. I have not done this but the power of your vote achieved it,” he added.

The Prime Minister greeted people gathered near the venue of the ‘Parivartan Sankalp’ rally in Jaipur in Rajasthan.

The Prime Minister reached Jaipur after addressing a rally in Bhopal. Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh are among five states which will go to the polls later this year.

Before addressing the gathering in Jaipur, PM Modi paid floral tributes to BJP ideologue Deendayal Upadhyay on his birth anniversary.

In 2018 the Congress won 99 seats while the BJP won 73 seats in the 200-member Rajasthan assembly. The Congress led by Ashok Gehlot formed the government with the support of independents and the BSP. (ANI)

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Why Is Modi Scared Of Caste Census?: Rahul

By LokMarg 25th September 2023

Repeating what he said in the Lok Sabha during his intervention on the Women’s Reservation Bill that there are only three OBC bureaucrats working for the government of India, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi why is he scared of the caste census.

“The Government of India is being run by secretaries and cabinet secretaries. Only 3 out of 90 secretaries in the government of India are OBCs. The caste census will be an x-ray of India. With it, we will be able to find how many people belong to SC, ST, Dalit, and general categories,” Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at a public meeting in Chhattisgarh’s Bilaspur

Asking why PM Modi is scared of the caste census, he said that I asked PM Modi to publically share the data from the Census conducted by Congress.

“Why is PM Modi scared of caste census? Why did they not release the caste census report conducted by Congress? Rahul Gandhi in Chhattisgarh,” he said.

Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Adani issue, he said that the PM has a remote control, but he presses it ‘secretly’.

“When we press the remote (during launching events of schemes), the poor get the benefit of the schemes while when the BJP does it, Adani gets ports, airports, railways contracts, and infrastructure projects, and the public sector gets privatised. There are two remotes we press the remote in front of you but when BJP presses the public sector becomes secretly,” he added.

He further said that in previous elections, we made promises regarding strengthening the foundation of Chhattisgarh which were fulfilled by us.

“We fulfilled all our promises including farmers’ loan waiver, half of the electricity bill on which PM Modi said Congress party cannot fulfil these promises and we have witnessed that we fulfilled all those promises,” he added.

The 2023 Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly election is scheduled to be held later this year to elect all 90 members of the House. Congress managed to win 68 seats while BJP was able to ensure victory on 15 seats in the 2018 Assembly elections.

Earlier in the day speaking at a rally in Bhopal, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit out at the Congress and former President Rahul Gandhi by taking a jibe at Rahul’s interactions with selective groups.

“There is no value for the life of the poor for the Congress leaders born with silver spoons in their mouth. For them, the poor’s life is adventure tourism. For them, the houses and colonies of poor people have become the locations for video shootings. They have done this in the past too. BJP government is showing the developed and grand face of the country to the world” the Prime Minister said.

Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh will go to the polls along with Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram later this year. In both central Indian states there is a clear fight between the Congress and the BJP. (ANI)

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Vigilance Registers Case Against Badal, Three Arrested

By LokMarg 25th September 2023

The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) has registered a criminal and corruption case against former finance minister and Congress leader Manpreet Singh Badal for using his political pressure and influence to purchase two plots in Model Town phase-1 Bathinda.

Cases have been registered against four other individuals as well. In this case, the Vigilance Bureau has arrested three accused namely Rajiv Kumar (resident of New Shakti Nagar), Amandeep Singh (resident of Lal Singh Basti) and Vikas Arora (resident of Tagore Nagar).

The case was registered on a complaint filed by Saroop Chand Singla, former MLA Bathinda city, against Manpreet Singh Badal and others, a spokesperson of the Vigilance Bureau said.

He informed that during the probe it was found that Manpreet Singh Badal during his tenure as Finance Minister from the year 2018 to 2021 used political pressure and influence to purchase two plots measuring 1560 square yards of land in Model Town phase-1 Bathinda near the TV tower thereby caused a financial loss of lakhs of rupees to the state exchequer, a press release from the Vigilance Bureau of Punjab said.

The spokesperson further informed that during the investigation of complaint number 11/2022, it was found that the former Finance Minister, using his influence, colluded with the officials of Bathinda Development Authority (BDA) and has misled the general public during the bidding of plots in the year 2021, and fake maps were uploaded to prevent the participation of general public in the bidding process.

In addition to this, the digital signatures of Balwinder Kaur, Administrative Officer, BDA Bathinda were used for the auction of plots without her permission.

During the probe, it has also came to light that the bids of the sole three bidders namely Rajive Kumar, Vikas Arora and Amandeep Singh were made by one person Advocate Sanjiv Kumar from the same IP address and from the same place.

The former finance minister has purchased both plots through agreements from the bidders known to him before they got allotment letters from BDA Bathinda. It was also found that Manpreet Singh Badal has transferred 25 per cent earnest money in advance to the successful allottees which shows his connivance with the bidders.

He further informed that the VB has been hunting for the arrest of other accused and involvement of other accused would also be probed during the further investigation, the release said. (ANI)

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Cong Busy Glorifying One Family: Modi In MP

By LokMarg 25th September 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday made a scathing attack on Congress in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, saying the party “has been busy glorifying only one family,” nourishing “corrupt system” and if gets a chance to come into power, it will be a huge loss for the state.

Addressing Karyakarta Mahakumbh in Bhopal, the Prime Minister slammed Congress on a range of issues and said the opposition party “neither has the ability to see nor understand the national interest”.

He said Congress does not want to change and does not want the country to change.

“Congress cannot digest the development work in India…They don’t want the country to develop. They are never proud of the country’s achievements because neither they want to change and neither want the country to change or develop. Congress will make Madhya Pradesh a ‘Bimaru Rajya’ if it gets a chance (to come into power here). They opposed digital payment but the world is impressed by UPI mode,” he said.

“Congress has been busy glorifying only one family. Congress has been busy nourishing the corrupt system in India. Congress is like rusty iron, which gets corroded if kept in the rain. Now Congress neither has the ability to see nor understand the national interest,” he added.

The Prime Minister said that coming years are crucial for Madhya Pradesh.

“If during this crucial time, Congress, a dynasty party, a party full of corruption, gets a chance (to come into power), this will be a huge loss for the state,” he said.

The Prime Minister said BJP government in Madhya Pradesh has completed almost 20 years and youth are lucky they have “not witnessed the bad governance of the Congress government”.

“This means the youth, who will be voting for the first time in the upcoming elections, have only seen the BJP government. The present youth of Madhya Pradesh are lucky that they have not witnessed the bad governance of the Congress government… Congress turned the state into ‘Bimaru Rajya’… BJP has tried to take the state to a new level with new energy… Youth here have seen the development work and good governance of the BJP government,” the Prime Minister said.

He said that the ‘Karyakarta Mahakumbh’ shows the energy of BJP workers.

‘Karyakarta Mahakumbh’ says a lot of things. This shows what is there in the minds of people here. This shows the energy of the workers of the BJP… Madhya Pradesh is the heart of the country. People of the state have always supported BJP,” he said.

PM Modi said Congress had given slogan of ‘Garibi Hatao’ fifty years ago but failed to deliver.

“The life of the poor does not matter to their (Congress) leaders, born with silver spoons in their mouth… For them, the life of the poor is adventure tourism… For Congress leaders, poor persons’ colonies have become location for video shootings. They have done this in the past too. BJP government is showing the developed and grand face of the country to the world,” he said.

He alleged that Congress and other opposition parties tried to prevent Droupadi Murmu from becoming the President.

“These (Congress) are the same people who tried their best to stop the country’s first tribal woman President Droupadi Murmu from becoming the President. These are the same people who have repeatedly tried to humiliate her. These people are the same people who had stopped the entry of daughters in the front lines of the country’s armed forces,” he said.

Madhya Pradesh is among five states which will face assembly polls later this year. (ANI)

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Owaisi Challenges Rahul To Contest Elections From Hyderabad

By LokMarg 25th September 2023

All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Sunday challenged Congress MP Rahul Gandhi to contest elections from Hyderabad and not Wayanad in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections.

The AIMIM MP was addressing a public gathering in his parliamentary constituency, Hyderabad.

Owaisi said that the Babri Masjid, in Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya, was demolished under the regime of the grand old party.

“I am challenging your leader (Rahul Gandhi) to contest elections from Hyderabad and not Wayanad. You keep giving big statements, come to the ground, and fight against me. People from Congress will say a lot of things, but I am ready…Babri Masjid and Secretariat’s mosque were demolished under the Congress regime…” he said.

The Congress and AIMIM are at loggerheads in Telangana as both parties are slugging it out to reach the helm in the upcoming state’s Assembly elections, which are scheduled to be held later this year.

Earlier this month, Rahul Gandhi while speaking at Vijayabheri Sabha in Telangana’s Tukkuguda, said that the Bharatiya Janata Party, Bharat Rashtra Samithi, and AIMIM are working in unison in Telangana and that his party fighting against this troika.

“In Telangana, the Congress party is not fighting against BRS but with BRS, BJP and AIMIM combined. They call themselves different parties but they are working together unitedly,” Rahul Gandhi had said.

The Wayanad MP had also claimed that there are no CBI-ED cases against Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao or AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi since Prime Minister Narendra Modi considers them his “own people”.

All political parties in the fray are leaving no stone unturned to emerge victorious in the Telangana Assembly polls. The ruling BRS has already announced its list of candidates, while the Congress has announced its “six guarantees” which the party says will be fulfilled if they are voted to power. (ANI)

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Nobody Knows When Women Reservation Will Be Implemented: Rahul

By LokMarg 22nd September 2023

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said the Women’s Reservation Bill is a “distraction tactic” by the BJP-led government to take away the attention of people from demands such as caste census and said nobody knows when the legislation will be implemented.

Addressing a press conference at here a day after the Bill was passed in the Special Session of Parliament, Rahul Gandhi demanded that the data of the previous caste census should be released immediately and that a fresh caste census should be held to determine the population of OBCs and other weaker sections.

Rahul Gandhi said the party extended its full support to the Women’s Reservation Bill but there is no certainty about the date of its implementation and it requires Census and delimitation exercise. He said should have been implemented immediately.

“Women’s Reservation Bill is great but we received two footnotes that Census and Delimitation need to be done before that. Both of these will take years. The truth is that the reservation can be implemented today…This is not a complicated matter but the government doesn’t want to do that. The government has presented this before the country but it will be implemented 10 years from now. Nobody knows if this will even be implemented. This is a distraction tactic, diversion tactic,” Rahul Gandhi said.

“What is it that you are being diverted from? From OBC Census. I spoke of one institution in Parliament, that which runs the Government of India – Cabinet secretary and secretaries…I asked why only three out of 90 people belong to the OBC community?…I don’t understand that PM Modi speaks of OBCs every day but what did he do for them?” he asked.

The Congress leader had spoken about the lower representation of OBCs in the secretary-level posts at the Centre while participating in the debate on the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha. The BJP countered him by saying that it gives larger representation to OBCs and the number of MPs of the party from the community was more than the total number of parliamentarians of Congress.

The 128th Constitutional Amendment Bill 2023, also called Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, was passed during the Special Session of Parliament which began on Monday. The two Houses were adjourned sine die on Thursday, a day before the scheduled ending of the session, after the Bill was passed.

Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam is the first bill passed by Parliament in its new building. (ANI)

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